Every parent’s first and foremost wish is to provide the best education to their children and it starts with building a strong educational foundation in their early childhood. So let’s understand why Montessori is the first preference of parents and why there is so much fuss about this educational philosophy.
What is Montessori School Educational Philosophy?
Montessori educational philosophy is based on self-directed activities, hands-on learning, and collaborative play. In a Montessori School, children have the freedom to choose the activities or work material of their interest while highly trained teachers offer age-appropriate learning lessons to guide the process. Children work with different age groups and learn the art of leadership, communication, and social skills and discover and explore the knowledge of the world, which helps enhance their maximum potential.
Dubai International Private School Montessori classrooms are beautifully designed environments to meet the needs of children of a specific age range. Dr. Maria Montessori believed experiential learning in such an environment leads to a deeper understanding of language, maths, science, music, social interactions, sensorial, cultural, and practical life.
Work materials are designed to support child interests along with their development. Children are given enough time to learn from their own experiences and at their own pace. Montessori work materials help children to respond to their natural curiosities and build a solid foundation for lifelong learning.
Benefits of Montessori School
- It provides a safe, engaging, and nurturing environment
- It promotes trust in themselves
- It develops confidence in their abilities
- It develops various skills such as gross motor coordination fine motor skills, language, and social skills
- Montessori curriculum offer opportunities to gain independence in daily tasks
- It fosters growth and develops self-confidence, imagination, and intellectual independence.
Who Was Maria Montessori?
Dr. Maria Montessori was an Italian physician and anthropologist who with her years of observation of children’s behaviors and their developmental patterns designed this educational philosophy that now helps children to develop socially, intellectually, physically, and spiritually.
She was the first woman to be granted a diploma as a physician in Italy. Later, she followed her interest in human development and assisted in the clinic for children with mental illnesses and then later directed the Orthophrenic School in Rome for children with physical, mental, and emotional challenges. During this time she learned the needs of children and the need to change our attitudes about children and their treatment.
In 1907, Dr. Montessori learned the importance of a positive, nurturing environment and how their development needs keep changing over the period; when she was given the responsibility of caring for a group of children in Rome’s San Lorenzo slum district.
The work materials designed are tried and tested over a period of many years by many schools like Dubai International Private School which validates the efficacy and its learnings.
She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1949, 1950, and 1951 for continued work, teaching, and writing. Over the past century children throughout the world have benefited from this educational approach which supports, nurtures, and protects children’s natural development.
Her Vision
She never wanted people to take exams and proceed for certification. Her vision was that every individual should pass from one stage to a higher location through their own efforts, understanding, and learning and that defines the real meaning of the inner evolution of the individual.
Montessori School Classroom
Montessori classrooms contain many places for children to learn and play in small or larger groups, inside or outside. All items are child’s size and kept at their eye level. Teachers are not the focal points, they only guide children. Bright and attractive colours, along with interesting objects and pictures are used to decorate the classrooms which induce complex sensory and intellectual experiences.
In a Montessori Dubai International Private School, children learn to interact with each other, perform role-playing activities, and learn to think critically and creatively about certain challenging situations. Children move freely in the classroom choosing activities that interest them and the environment is perfect for their optimal development: physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally. In Montessori classrooms, children are engaged totally through hands-on exploration involving the 5 senses which results in meaningful learning. They develop a deeper learning experience that creates a lifetime of love for learning and a self-directed process of problem-solving and discovery.
Things parents should look:-
- If the teacher is receiving quality Montessori training regularly
- Are children happy and relaxed
- Are children independently selecting activities and are totally engaged in it?
- Are the school environment or classroom in good condition
- Are the children treated by teachers with respect and do they get one-on-one attention?
Final word to Parents
Understanding children’s developmental needs are important in order to provide them with a positive engaging environment that is intensely driven by their developmental needs. When finding a Montessori School, check if the school offers children more than academic skills to help them grow into confident, independent, caring, self-motivated self-directed learners.